Saturday sees the second warm-up game between Wales and England, though with both teams making changes it will be difficult to see any pattern. The match kicks off at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 13 August at 1430 BST Live on Sky Sports 3.
Adam Jones will not play in Wales’ World Cup warm-up against England on, the Ospreys man was expected to feature at the Millennium Stadium but he and full-back Lee Byrne (knee) miss out. Gavin Henson is picked at inside centre as Jamie Roberts moves to outside centre while James Hook returns from a neck injury to start at full-back.
Hooker Lloyd Burns and lock Luke Charteris will start in Wales’ pack. The Dragons pair have been picked by Warren Gatland ahead of Huw Bennett and Bradley Davies respectively as the Wales coach considers his World Cup selection with two games remaining before his final 30-man squad selection on 22 August.
Rhys Priestland continues at fly-half against England in Cardiff as Scarlets team-mate Stephen Jones has not recovered from a “minor” calf strain sustained just before kick-off in their 23-19 defeat to the English last Saturday. Hook replaces Morgan Stoddart at 15 after the Scarlets player broke his left leg in Saturday’s defeat at Twickenham to end his chances of playing in September’s World Cup.
“Warren Gatland said: (quote) We need the win this weekend, it is as simple as that. We have told the players that for us to be regarded as contenders at the Rugby World Cup we need to beat England at home this weekend, to send out that message to everyone that we are contenders. (end quote)
Mike Tindall will captain an England side showing 13 changes when they face Wales on Saturday in Cardiff in their second World Cup warm-up Test. Tindall, Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, Shontayne Hape and Toby Flood, return to the backline. Richard Wigglesworth gets a chance to start at scrum-half and wing Mark Cueto and prop Alex Corbisiero are the only players retained from the 23-19 Twickenham win.
Hooker Steve Thompson and prop Dan Cole come into the front row, Louis Deacon and Courtney Lawes team up in the second row, while Tom Wood, Hendre Fourie and Nick Easter form a new back-row trio.
Teams
Wales:
James Hook; George North; Jamie Roberts, Gavin Henson; Shane Williams; Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Lloyd Burns, Craig Mitchell, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton, Toby Faletau
Replacements: Huw Bennett, Ryan Bevington, Josh Turnbull, Justin Tipuric, Tavis Knoyle, Scott Williams, Aled Brew
England:
Ben Foden (Northampton); Chris Ashton (Northampton), Mike Tindall (Gloucester, capt), Shontayne Hape (London Irish), Mark Cueto (Sale); Toby Flood (Leicester), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens); Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Steve Thompson (Wasps), Dan Cole (Leicester); Louis Deacon (Leicester), Courtney Lawes (Northampton); Tom Wood (Northampton), Hendre Fourie (Sale), Nick Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: Lee Mears (Bath), Matt Stevens (Saracens), Tom Palmer (Stade Francais), James Haskell (Ricoh Black Rams), Danny Care (Harlequins), Charlie Hodgson (Saracens), Matt Banahan (Bath).